Sarah Silverman - Jesus Is Magic

(18) 72min

COMEDY

Taboos are there to be shattered, barriers are in place to be broken down and sweary words are there to be bellowed out on prime time television. Sarah Silverman knows all this and has made it her speciality.

This rather deceptively marketed film appears to be a movie in the spirit of Tenacious D’s Pick of Destiny, but after a ten-minute sketch set-up, pretty much boils down to her stand-up show interspersed with a few songs (which she delivers in her best Annie-esque yowl). Essentially a TV special reduxed for the cinema then.

Silverman – in her odd, joyously naïve character – systematically wrestles with pretty much every taboo she can find: AIDS, 9/11, death, paedophilia, incest, rape, sexism, homophobia ageism and potentially offends Jews, Catholics, Mexicans, African Americans, the Japanese, Germans, Puerto Ricans and the Chinese in turn. Rather than providing some kind of commentary or insight she simply reiterates these taboos in their most searing, some of which is so ridiculous it is amazing, while others fall flat. She carries on unabashed anyway. She doesn’t know any better we’re to assume.

You either love or hate Silverman’s shtick, and that polarising effect is something the most successful comedians will tell you is no bad thing. The overall effect is partially hilarious, but ultimately a bit empty.